Earlier today a judge in Virginia ruled that the federal government doesn’t have the authority to require individuals to purchase health insurance under the recently passed Affordable Care Act. In his decision, Judge Henry E. Hudson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia said that Congress had exceeded its authority under the Constitution. But he stopped short of throwing out the law entirely. So does this mean that the individual mandate is out for good? Not necessarily. Today’s ruling simply moves health reform one step closer to a legal showdown in the Supreme Court.

For more on the ruling, check out this week’s Policy & Practice podcast. This edition of the podcast also includes the latest on Medicare physician payments, Accountable Care Organizations, and the potential for greater innovation in health care delivery under the Affordable Care Act. And stay tuned next week to learn how Republican control of the House could affect health policy.